Improvement in magneto-electric machines



A. G. HOLCOMBE. MAGNET'o-ELECTRIC MACHINE.

WITNESSES @1 wf@ azz/ l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. G. HOLCOMBE.

' MAGNETO-E'LECTRIC MACHINE.

N 184,956, Y Patented Dec. 5, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

ALFRED G. HOLOOMBE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHiNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,966, dated December 5, 1876 application led October 7, 1876.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED G. HOLCOMBE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magneto-Electric Machines, of which the following is a specification that will enable those skilled in the art to which my improvements relate, to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention belongs to that class in which the energy of a prime mover is converted into electricity; and its object is to produce, by a magneto-electric machine, a continuity of electrical pulsations that assimilate the current produced by the ordinary electric battery.

To this end I provide a rotary armature of such construction, and having such relations to a magnetic field Within which it revolves, that the flow of electricity will be perfectly steady and uniform whatever may be the volocity of revolution of the armature.

A convenient form in which I have embodied my invention is represented in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a rear view. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the line a: of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross section, showing the commutator and the electrical connections of the conductors; and Fig. 5 is a detached view of my armature.

A A B B represent inducing-magnets, so arranged and wrapped with insulated con- :luctors as to form an annular space in the center, within which the armature O revolves. Permanent steel magnets might be substituted. The north and south polarities of the magnets of any desired number are placed Jpposite each other, either above or below. Ihe armature O consists of a disk, ring, or cylinder of soft iron, either solid or hollow, wrapped longitudinally with insulated elec- `:ric conductors in a series of sections or boboins having free ends, which, when the arnature is revolved, successively come in con- :act with stationary conductors.

i It is well known that when magnetism passes through or intersects an electric coniuctor, a disturbance takes place in theelectric condition of the conductor, and if a circuit be formed of the conductor the disturbance taires place all through it in a given direction when intersected by magnetism of one polarity, and continues as long as the magnetism continues to rise in intensity, and in the opposite direction when the intensity lowers; and the contrary effect takes place when intersected by magnetism of the other polarity. Under this law the dotted lines in Fig. 3 indicate the operation of the inagnetic force as it intersects the conductors and armature in my machine.

N N denote the north poles of the incitingmagnets, and S S the south poles. N N and S S denote the polarity of the armature by induction at the magnetic centers O O. The conductors pa-ss from north to south polarity on one side, and from south to north polarity on the other side. As the armature revolves its polar condition constant-ly changes, but maintains the same relative position to the inducing-magnets. As but very few of the convolutions of the wire on the armature are acted on at any one time, the resistance of the wire can be diminished by increasing the number of its free ends, or, in other words, the number of sections or bobbins. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the free ends of each section or bobbin pass through opposite insulated segments of the commutator D, which is provided with springs, one for each segment, and operates as usual in magneto-electric machines of this class.

When electro-magnets are employed as inducting-xnagnets, a current of electricity must be passed through the helices (which are all connected) to magnetize them. But when permanent steel magnets are employed the mere revolution of the armature is all that is required to perform the functions of telegraphing, lighting, and all others to which electricity is adapted, a continuity of pulsations or a uniform and continuous iiow of the electric current always resulting.

I am aware that such an effect has heretofore been produced by other means than those I employ, but I am not aware that it has been produced by a device of equal simplicity and. economy of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire, to secuie byLet- In testimony'whereof Ihavelvhereunto subters Patent, issc xgibed my nenne.V

The revolving lfermeture C, consisting of a soft-iron ring, disk, or cylinder, either solid ALFRED G. HOLCOMBE. or hollow, Wound longitudinally, ltud inclosed v by a series of independent' sections or bob- Witnesses: bins made of insulated electrical conductors E. S.' HILL, hav-ing free ends, substantially as and for the A. GILLETTE HOLOOMBE. purposes specified.4

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